Do you legally need a return address?

The return address is not required on postal mail. However, lack of a return address prevents the postal service from being able to return the item if it proves undeliverable; such as from damage, postage due, or invalid destination. Such mail may otherwise become dead letter mail.

Why is return address needed?

A return address tells the USPS where the sender wants the mail returned if it is undeliverable and is required on certain types of mail.

Is wrong return address illegal?

No. It can be considered a deceptive practice if the intent is to deceive someone however. The main purpose behind the return address, is just that, an address the postal service can return something in the event it cannot be delivered…

Can you mail without return address?

The United States Postal Service does not require a return address on regular parcel post mail. The procedure for sending packages without a return address is exactly the same as sending them with one, except that you leave off the return address.

Is it illegal to put a different return address on mail?

Yes. You can use any address you like as the return address. The return address simply tells the post office where to deliver the mail if it is not deliverable to the addressee.

Do you need to put return address on business reply mail?

Business Reply Mail (the sender) if your customer (the respondent) mails the reply back to you. The extra inducement is provided because your customer does not need to affix the return postage, does not have to supply a postcard or envelope, and does not need to put an address on the mailpiece.

What do you put instead of a return address?

Alternatives for your physical address

• Rent a P.O. Box. Head down to your local post office and rent a post office box.
• Use your work address. If you have a day job with an office, talk to your employer about using the office address.
• Ask a friend with a business.
• Head to a UPS Store.
• Try your co-working space.

What happens if mail is sent to an address that doesn’t exist?

Undeliverable as Addressed Mail If the mailpiece is addressed incorrectly and has no return address, the mailpiece will either be handled by the local Post Office™ or sent to the Mail Recovery Center.

Can you put someone else’s address as a return address?

What does no postage necessary if mailed in the US mean?

The phrase “No Postage Necessary if Mailed in the United States” on an envelope indicates the sender has used “business reply mail,” or BRM – a service of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The organization pays postage at a lower rate only on the pieces respondents mail back.

How much does BRM cost?

Business Reply Mail Postage Rates

Categories	Cost Per Response for 1-Ounce Letter
Basic BRM	$0.83
High-Volume BRM	$0.091
Basic QBRM	$0.07
High-Volume QBRM	$0.014